Guide means for flush valves of closet tanks



1935. R, o. DONNELLY 1,987,287

GUIDE MEANS FOR FLUSH VALVES OF CLOSET TANKS Filed June 4, 1934 a woe/wk 2i. A7. 170171252 77,

Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUIDE MEANS FOR FLUSH VALVES OF CLOSET TANKS Richardo. Donnelly, Peoria, n1.

' Application June 4, 1934, Serial No. 728,937

8 Claims, (01. 4-57) flush-valve that will center the same squarely in line with the center of the valve-seat and positively maintain it in that position under all conditions to which the valve may be subjected.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement of parts in a guiding means for a flushvalve that will admit of properly centering and positively holding the stem of the'latter in an exact location.

Still another object is to combine within a closet-tank a tube for water to be conducted to the closet-bowl, a guide-means for the flushvalve, the whole being so arranged as to be installed as a unit in said tank.

Again, an object lies. in providing a guidemeans for a flush-valve the parts of which are interchangeable in that such parts when unfit after long use may be removed and replaced by others.

In order to provide a clear understanding of my invention I have provided the appended drawing showing a preferred form of the structure employed, it being understood, however, that slight changes insuch structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention while lying within the claims tofollow.

Figure 1 is a front. elevation of a closet-tank in part section showing my invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of part of a tube shown in Figure 1 illustrating a guide-means for the stem of a flush-valve, and

Figure 3 is a like section of the lower part of such tube showing the flush-valve of Figure 1 raised from its seat in said tube.

As intimated in the objects my purpose is to provide a thoroughly practical and staunch guide-means for the flush-valve of a closet-tank that can be depended upon to guide the valve accurately and surely to its seat even under the most adverse conditions.

The customary closet-tank is denoted at 1, being provided with the usual discharge pipe 2 in its bottom leading to the closet-bowl, not shown, any usual water supply pipe being shown at 3, the float-valve mechanism therefor not being shown, however, since it does not enter into the present invention.

Arising from the open end of the discharge pipe 2 is a stand-pipe or tube 4, one end being suitably connected with said pipe 2 so as to discharge into it. Said stand-pipe or tube may preferably be a casting, a part 5 thereof being offset laterally from the part entering the said pipe 2, its upper portion being in turn oiiset into the portion 6 the bore of which is substantially in alignment with the bore of the portion 4 thereof to overhang the same, said. portions forming facing abutments the saidportion 4 being open toward said portion 6 and provided with the valveseat' '7 to receive any usual ball-valve 8.

That wall or abutments of the portion 6 overhanging and facing the abutment" having. the valve-seat 7 is closed except for a threaded bore 9 which receives a threaded nipple 10. The bore of the nipple receives through it a rod 11 serving as a stem for the said. ball-valve 8, said nipple being threaded to take a guide-tube 12 which arises? in this instance within the portion 6 of the tube.

At 13 is shown any conventional operating lever pivoted on the tank 1 at 14, for example, while. suspended from an arm 15 thereof within the tank is a. rod 16 to embrace the stem 11, there being an adjustable button or stop 17 on the latter to receive said rod 16- when lifting the ballvalve 8.

Under the arrangement shown the pipe or tube a, 5, 6 conducts water from a water-supply pipe 18' to the closet-bowl, though, of course, the purpose of this does not enter into the invention, the statement with regard thereto being made merely to show the utility of the structure while at the. same time: calling attention to the fact that such tube: 4, 5, 6 made somewhat in the form shown answers as a thoroughly staunch structure to act'as the support for the guidemeans described. Stated otherwise, since a pipe for the purpose named is part of the equipment of some tanks it can be made in some such form as shown for the purpose of incorporating the structure of my invention. But it is to be stated that while the pipe or tube is so used for my said purpose other special structures may be provided for supporting the guide-means herein, or its equivalent.

It is to be noted, as a preferred arrangement, that for ease of assembling the guide parts the nipple 10 can be screwed into position permanently in the part to carry it and that the tube 12 may be readily inserted or removed. And it is observed that since the said tube is preferably of some considerable length it forms a guide for the stem 11 of such extent that the ball-valve 8 will always be held positively in line with the bore of the seat '7 and will be accurately guided to the latter, neither jarring, nor the surging of water affecting the valve in any way in its travel to said seat. The operating rod 16 merely floats and will not deflect the valve out of its line of travel or cause the stem to bind in the tube 12, the stem having a free sliding fit in said tube.

I claim:

1. Guide means for the purpose named including as an attachment for tanks, a rigid tubular member all portions of which are integral, part of which is offset laterally in the length thereof leaving two extensions substantially in line with each other, each having an abutment, one facing the other and spaced apart, there being an opening in one of the abutments, said abutment at said opening constituting a valve-seat, there being an opening in the opposite abutment, the axes of the openings being in line, a valve adapted to rest on said valve-seat, and a Valve-rod extending therefrom through said opening opposite the valve-seat and guided within the extension having said opening.

2. Guide means for thepurposes named as an attachment for tanks, includinginits construction a rigid member all portions of which are integral, part of which is ofiset laterally in the length thereof leaving two extensions substantially in line with each other, each having an abutment, one facing the other and spaced apart, there being an opening in one of the abutments, said abutment at said opening constituting a valveseat, there being an opening in the opposite abutment, the axes of the openings being in line, a valve adapted to rest on said valve-seat, a valverod extending'from said valve into the second named opening, and a nipple seated in said opening, the valve-rod extending therethrough.

3. The invention according to claim 2 including a guide-tube seated in the nipple and having the valve-rod extending thereinto.

4. The combination with a closet tank, of a tubular one-piece casting mounted thereon opening through a wall thereof, part of said casting between its ends being offset laterally lengthwise thereof leaving two terminal portions each having an abutment, one facing the other in spaced relation, there being an opening in each abutment, the axes of which openings lie substantially in alignment, one of the abutments at its opening constituting a valve-seat, a guide-tube within the terminal portion lying opposite that having the valve-seat and seated at the opening of such portion the bore of the tube lying in line with the axis of the opening of the valveseat, a valve to rest on the latter, a valve-rod extending from the valve and extending into the guide-tube, and means for unseating the said valve.

5. In combination with the valve-seat of the discharge pipe of a closet-tank, guide-means including a tubular structure arising from and communicating with the pipe at one side thereof distant from the valve-seat, said structure having a portion overhanging the said valve-seat in spaced relation thereto, a guide tube erected in said portion, a valve to engage upon said valveand' the valve.

6. A combination stand pipe overflow member and valve mounting for flush tanks comprising an upright conduit having lower and upper spaced portions in substantial alinement and an intermediate portion extending laterally from said lower portion thence upwardly andrthencelaterally to said upper portion, and a valve seat on the uppermost end of said lower portion providing an opening therethrough leading into said conduit. j

7. A combination stand pipe overflow member and valve mounting for flush tanks comprising an upright conduit having lower'and upper spaced portions in substantial alinement and an intermediate portion extending laterally from said lower portion thence upwardly and thence laterally to said upper portion, a valve seat on the uppermost end of said lower portion providing an opening therethrough leading into said conduit, a valve closure element adapted to engage said seat and a valve rod extending vertically from said valve closure element into said upper spaced conduit portion.

8. A combination stand pipe overflow member and valve mounting for flush tanks comprising an upright conduit having lower and upper spaced portions in substantial alinement and an intermediate portion extending laterally from said lower portion thence upwardly and thence laterally to said upper portion, a valve seat on the uppermost end of said lower portion providing an opening therethrough leading into said conduit, a valve closure element adapted to engage said seat, a valve rod extending vertically from said valve closure element into said upper spaced conduit portion, and a bearing guide in said upper spaced conduit portion and in which said rod is slidably journaled.

RICHARD O. DONNELLY. 

